Dodgeball tournament raises money for local breast cancer research
Mike Ziegler
-Photo Editor-
After weeks of preparation by some and none by others, dodgeballs and players lined up on their respective lines ready to “throw balls, save boobs” in front of a student and faculty-filled crowd in the STLCC-Meramec Gym on Oct. 20. Nine teams arrived on Friday night to try and take down the reigning 2011 spring semester dodgeball champs, “The Big Mistake;” however none prevailed.
Each team played at least three matches with some playing in four due to an odd number of teams. The $400 raised from concession sales and team dues went toward a local breast cancer research facility.
“We’re throwing balls at people and raising money,” Meramec Student Ambassador Vice President Tori Lamborn said. “It’s been better than what we hoped for.”
Preparation leading up to the event differed for each team, some practicing weeks in advance.
“We came to the gym like three times before the game, working out strategies,” William Cody of the “White Chocolate Avengers” said while echoes of friendly trash-talking and dodgeballs bounced off walls.
The “Avengers” made sure they were prepared for the sting of dodgeballs.
“We threw basketballs at each other,” teammate Codie Blunda said.
Teams coordinated their appearance by wearing matching t-shirts on the Student Activities Council (S.A.C.) and “Montage Mayhem” teams to fake and real mustaches on the “Mustachio’s” and masks worn by some “Avengers.”
“[Wearing masks] was supposed to be a thing everybody did, but not everyone could breathe,” Aaron Daniel of the “Avengers” said.
Music played and the dance moves flowed during the matches, spurring bits of dancing on the court from players and referees to spectators in the bleachers. As “Another One Bites the Dust” finished up its last chord over the speakers, the “Cock and Bulls” team beat out “Darin’s Dodgers,” leading them to a 3-1 record for the night.
The “Montage Mayhem” fell early against reigning champs “Big Mistake” in the first match of the night. The “Mayhem” went on to recover their record and finish 2-1.
“Mustachio’s” took care of the winless “Darin’s Dodgers” early, but fell to a 1-2 record after losing their last two games.
Intermission filled the court with impromptu games of dodgeball and soccer while spectators bought Skittles shaped as dodgeballs among other concession fares.
The tournament came down to the main championship event between the undefeated “Avengers” and “Big Mistake.” Early into the match, the “Avengers” went down two players, rising to three players out, 40 seconds into the match.
With three minutes left in the match the “Avengers” went down to Blunda remaining on the court bringing out chants of “Let’s go Chocolate” from the players standing along the sidelines, as well as other spectators in the stands.
Blunda caught a ball thrown by the “Big Mistake” with 2:28 left on the clock, bringing the “Avenger” player total to two on the court. The effort was short lived when the “Avengers” total dropped back down to Blunda at the two-minute mark while dueling chants of “Let’s go Chocolate” and “Big Mistake” rang out from the stands and sidelines.
Nearing the end of the match, with 1:45 remaining on the clock, it was still Blunda left on the court against three other “Big Mistake” players. With one minute left on the clock, “Big Mistake” sealed the deal, hitting Blunda and held on to the title of dodgeball champion another semester.
Exhibition matches followed after bracket play concluded. “Peanut Butter Jelly Time” rang out over the loud speakers as the referees took the court as players taking on anyone willing while remaining spectators lined the court edge.
“We were the only ones that lasted the full five minutes and went into overtime,” Chris Bathe, dodgeball referee and advisor for S.A.C., said.
